Tennessee fans flocked to the exits at the game’s media timeout. Entering the game on a three-game losing streak, that note would have been bad omen before the game. It was anything but on Tuesday night as the Vols routed No. 11 Louisville 83-62 for a much needed win.
The Vols controlled the game inside and turned in their best defensive performance of the season. Here’s three quick takeaways on the blowout win.
Tennessee Pounds The Ball Inside Early
The matchup was was a real clash of styles with Louisville spacing the court with athletic guards and Tennessee playing two bigs. The Vols took advantage of their inside size advantage, pounding the ball inside to their big men.
Tennessee’s offensive numbers fully illustrated this. The Vols shot poorly, making just one-of-eight three-point attempts and a putrid three-of-nine attempts at the line. But their offense was still decent. They scored 28 of 34 points in the paint as they fed their big men.
Jaylen Carey and Felix Okpara were the two biggest beneficiaries. Carey went for 12 points on four-of-six shooting from the field while Okpara scored eight points on five total shot attempts.
The Vols got their perimeter offense going in the second half and did not have to lean on the big men as much. But Tennessee still went for 42 points in the paint on 14-of-21 shooting at the rim. Tennessee needed to control things inside and they did just that.
Tennessee’s Stars Get It Going In The Second Half
Tennessee building a seven-point halftime advantage was encouraging given how little offensive production the Vols got from stars Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Nate Ament. Both, especially Ament, were limited in minutes in the first half due to foul trouble but they combined for just seven first half points.
But as Tennessee opened the second half on a 19-11 stretch to take control of the game, both got going. Gillespie quickly scored 10 points in the first five of the second half. Ament added six points over that same stretch.
After being a non factor for much of the first half, Gillespie went for 20 points and three assists in the second half. Ament’s numbers— nine points, five rebounds and two assists— were more pedestrian but he stepped up when Tennessee opened up its lead.
More From RTI: How Ja’Kobi Gillespie Went From Power Five Football Recruit To Star Tennessee Point Guard
A Tennessee Defensive Effort We’re Used To Seeing
Louisville entered the game with the nation’s second most efficient offense, doing it while pushing the pace and scoring in spades. Past Tennessee teams have routinely shut down top-notch offenses. But this squad hadn’t been as strong there early this season.
The Vols brought elite defensive energy and attention to detail against the Cards holding them to just 62 points on 0.925 points per possession. Louisville’s previous season-low in points was 74 in a win against Cincinnati. It was the only game they’d scored less than 85 points previously as Louisville had scored 90 or more points in six games.
Louisville made just seven-of-34 three-point attempts which was, at least partially, some good shooting luck for Tennessee. But the Vols’ also did a stellar job defending the perimeter and contesting shots from deep.
Tennessee also did a better job forcing turnovers then they have most the season. Louisville coughed it up 16 times and Tennessee turned it into 21 points.
Up Next
Tennessee basketball is back at home on Sunday for its penultimate non conference matchup of the season against Gardner-Webb. Tipoff is at 3 p.m. ET. SEC Network+ is streaming the game.
